Starting Today, I'll Work as a City Lord-Chapter 196: Just Wanted an Excuse

North Wind City’s City Lord struggled to resist the urge to grab the fish with his hands and instead ate slowly and gracefully. He squinted at Baron Adam, who was devouring the food like a starving ghost, and curled his lip in disdain. Son of an earl? He eats like a common beggar.

“Here, try this milk tea,” he said with a grin as he raised a cup. “A new drink that costs one silver coin a cup. I wonder if it suits Lord Adam’s taste.”

One silver coin a cup. North Wind City’s City Lord had originally wanted to make several cups with one packet, but this was how nobles were. Even though it pained him, he wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to show off his superiority. A textbook case of saving face at great personal cost.

“One silver coin… a cup?” Baron Adam’s hand trembled slightly as he held his spoon. This extravagant?

Baron Adam stared blankly at the light brown liquid in the porcelain cup in front of him. It wasn’t barley wine? He lifted it and sniffed- it was rich with the aroma of milk, with a hint of something refreshing.

Gulp…

As the milk tea entered his mouth. Baron Adam froze. The rich creaminess carried a subtle bitterness, followed by a light sweetness that lingered on the tongue even after swallowing.

“What is this?”

He stared straight at the Lord of Northwind City, mind already racing with the potential benefits of this drink. I must get this drink, he thought. If I present it to the Fourth Prince, I might win his favor and secure my position as the heir to the earl.

“Milk tea. A new kind of beverage. Very limited in supply, and extremely expensive- one silver coin a cup,” the city lord said blandly.

“City Lord, who invented this milk tea?” Baron Adam asked calmly. He quickly composed himself and returned to a more neutral demeanor.

What mattered most now was obtaining the recipe. With the formula, he could plan out countless possibilities. In his eyes, this milk tea was nothing short of a revolutionary creation.

“Uh…” North Wind City’s City Lord hesitated. Just as he was considering how he might profit from this, Baron Adam placed three thumb-sized rubies on the table.

“Hahaha… This milk tea was invented by West Sun City’s City Lord, His Excellency Liu Feng.” A glint of greed flashed in the city lord’s eyes.

“I see. Just a small token of appreciation.” Baron Adam gently pushed the rubies forward.

A maid quickly stepped up and carefully collected the rubies, placing them in front of North Wind City’s City Lord.

“So, Lord Adam, what brings you here today?” North Wind City’s City Lord asked, picking up the rubies.

“I came to consult you about something,” Baron Adam replied seriously.

“Oh?” North Wind City’s City Lord’s heart skipped a beat. Could he really be here to stand up for Baron Omar? What should I say? Push the blame onto Liu Feng?

“My brother, Baron Omar, has gone missing. I wanted to ask if Your Excellency knows of anyone who had a deep grudge against him,” Baron Adam said, staring at North Wind City’s City Lord’s face.

“Huh? How could that be?” North Wind City’s City Lord was stunned, staring blankly at Baron Adam. Could Baron Omar have fled after realizing that his plan had failed?

No… that couldn’t be. Baron Omar was backed by Count Pulley. Even if his identity had been exposed, he shouldn’t have to fear retaliation.

“In fact, Omar has been missing for several days now,” Baron Adam said, frowning. North Wind City’s City Lord’s reaction wasn’t one of panic, as he had expected, but one of genuine surprise.

“About that, I really don’t know,” North Wind City’s City Lord replied calmly. He sensed that Baron Adam was probing for information, so he figured it was best to say as little as possible.

“If there’s any news about Omar, I ask that Your Excellency inform me immediately,” Baron Adam said seriously.

“Of course, of course,” North Wind City’s City Lord replied with a cold smile at the corner of his mouth. He’d be thrilled if Baron Omar were dead.

“Well then, I’ve disturbed you enough for today. Thank you for the delicious meal, Your Excellency,” Baron Adam said as he rose to leave.

“Lord Adam, leaving so soon?” North Wind City’s City Lord feigned surprise. “I was hoping we could discuss some government affairs.”

“Apologies, I still have other cities to visit. I’m hoping someone might have news of Omar,” Baron Adam shook his head, his face full of regret.

As for his plan to win over nobles, he decided not to mention it just yet. Based on the information he’d gathered, Omar’s disappearance wasn’t simple. He didn’t want to accidentally rope an enemy into his circle- it could cost lives.

“Then next time, Lord Adam, you must stay longer,” North Wind City’s City Lord said, also pretending to be regretful.

“Certainly,” Baron Adam nodded, then left the castle with his knights in tow. “How did the investigation go?”

Baron Adam had just exited the castle when he asked indifferently, “How did that fool of a brother of mine manage to fail his bandit plan?”

A figure stepped out from the shadows and replied coldly, “My lord, I interrogated the commoners of North Wind City. They all said that it was West Sun City’s Liu Feng’s knights who saved North Wind City.”

“Oh? It seems West Sun City is not to be underestimated.” Baron Adam narrowed his eyes, countless calculations running through his mind. As for how Baron Adam found out about Omar’s bandit scheme, he had, of course, tortured that useless knight. It only took cutting off five of his fingers before he confessed everything.

To Baron Adam, the bandit plan had been a brilliant move- unfortunately, Liu Feng from West Sun City had appeared halfway through and ruined everything.

“My lord, North Wind City’s forces couldn’t possibly have stopped the bandits. That West Sun City is definitely something special.”

“Indeed, very special. Or perhaps… Omar’s disappearance is closely tied to West Sun City?” Baron Adam began to speculate.

The fact that West Sun City’s forces could defeat the hundreds of bandits under Omar’s command was what really caught Baron Adam’s attention.

Among nobles, dominance wasn’t always achieved through title alone, but from strength, measured in the number of knights under one’s command and the quality of their armor.

“Send word to my father about everything that’s happened here. I want a squad of elite knights,” Baron Adam’s eyes gleamed with calculation. He intended to use overwhelming force to pressure Liu Feng, to see what kind of man he really was. That milk tea recipe? It would soon become his.

“Yes, sir!”

“Go, to the next city.”

Baron Adam walked toward the carriage. His mission to win over the nobles would continue. freewebnøvel_com

Moreover, he wouldn’t go to West Sun City until his knights arrived. He didn’t believe that a mere baron would dare defy his father, County Pulley.

In the end, Baron Adam just wanted an excuse. Even if Omar’s disappearance had nothing to do with West Sun City, he’d still pin the blame on Liu Feng.

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